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LOUIE LOGARTA / Tribune 01142005


Neophyte Senators Manuelito “Lito” Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada — all of them established movie stars — are not going to like the monicker that has been appended to them by an aide of Sen. Manny Villar.

“Short time” boys was how they were described to by Villar's aide, according to our unimpeachable sources in the PIMRO.

Hey, I'm not the only one who heard this story. There were a few others besides myself when it was artfully narrated to us during the house (love nest is more like it, if you were to ask me) blessing of a Journal guy somewhere in Cavite last weekend.

This all started supposedly when a female public relations officer of the Sogo Group approached the unsuspecting Sen. Villar last week during one of the public hearings he was attending to request him for a congratulatory message which would be included in the souvenir program they would be preparing in line for the opening of their new branch in Las Piñas City.

Villar's message was naturally a must-get because his in-laws practically owned all of Las Piñas, not to mention the fact that his wife Cynthia is the incumbent congresswoman and his brother-in-law Nene Aguilar is the city mayor.

Unsure what line of business the Sogo Group was into (although he already probably had an inkling that it wasn't exactly what could be described as wholesome) and not wishing to disappoint outright the attractive PR officer who had the cojones to approach him, Villar begged off quite diplomatically and asked her instead to come back in the afternoon during session time so that he could have it drafted by his people.

Anyhows, the Sogo PR lady obediently did as she was told. While patiently waiting in the gallery for her chance to talk to Villar, she was approached by the female staffer who then proceeded to read her the riot act.

Their verbal exchange was supposed to have gone this way: “Miss, hindi ba ikaw yung taga-Sogo na humihingi ng message kay Sen. Villar? Pasyensiya ka na kasi hindi kami nagbibigay ng ganito para sa pakulo ng motel.”

Stung, the tired and exasperated Sogo PR lady shot back: “Bakit sina Senador Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid at Jinggoy Estrada okay lang sa kanila?”

“Kasi sanay naman sa short time yung tatlong 'yan,” was the unthinking response she got, whereupon she promptly departed.